The reflector. (Milledgeville, Ga.) 1817-1819, December 23, 1817, Image 1

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VOL. I. NO. 7. THE REFLECTOR. AGRICULTURE. GEORGIA SUGAR. We to-day republish an article on the cul- vation of sugar in Georgia* for the purpose f attaching to it an article from the St. Chris- opher’s Gazette, from which it appeal’s that he planters in the West Indies are not a lit- 'e alarmed at the prospect of sugar being ex- ensivcly cultivated in the United States.— The disproportionate number of hands em ployed in the West indies, and the great quantity of land there cultivated to produce the same weight of sugar are facts which con clusively shew the advantages our planters hare over those in the islands.—Dent. Press. Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Georgia, to a member of Congress—•< The. cultivation of the cane is rapidly extended with us. 1 have received some information on this interesting subject, which* I presame, may be gratifying to you. *. Major Butler, on 85 acres, cultivated by 17 hands, produced 140,000 lbs, sugar and 74 hhds. molasses. John M'Queen, esq. plant ed 18 acres in cane—average product 20,00c canes per acre—5000 canes, the product of a quarter of an acre, yielded 600 gallons of 'uir«, which, boiled down, made 672 lbs. so ar, and may lose 50 pounds in draining, caving 622 lbs. or 2488 lbs. of sugar per re.” Let us look at these products, and ee what they amount to, at the present pri ces for sogar and molasses : 140,000 lbs. sugar (worth on the spot) 17 cents 823,800 75 hhds. midasses, at 8 0 6,000 product of 85 acres A 17 hands, 829,800 38 acres, at 2488 lbs. per acre, 44,781 lbs. at 17 cents 87,612 77 Say 23 hhds molasses, at 890 1,840 Productof 18 arrcsic5or6 hands, 89,452 77 839, 252 the product of 23 hands are, for earh hand, 81706. There is no gold mine equal to this. But sugar and molasses may not hold their present prices ; the duties will be reduced, and the cost of freight and charges lessened by the continuance of pearo. Good sugar, however, cannot easily be lower in the United States than 10 cents, the (old) duty included, and it is believed the West India planter can- *ot profitably furnish it here at so low a rate. And in the product of these crops, raised on 103 acres, by 23 hands (allowing the sugar at 10 rents per p >und, and the molasses at 40 dollars per hhd.) would be 22,407 dollars, or *12 dollars per acre, and 961 per hand.— When we get to exporting sogar—when il becomes a staple article of our commerce, like cotton, its value may depreciate equal to the duty, that will probablcbc continued up >n it (2 1-2 cents per pound.) but still it will be most profitable crop. Thus the bounties of God to our country unfold themselves, and point to independence. *0 TO* XMTOR OI THR IT. CURIITOMRR’i ADVERTISER* Sir,—Upon reading in an American pa per the above statement of facts, and the re flections upon them, I have been led to con sidcr how they may affect us, and what mea sures wc ought in duty to ourselves to adopt to counteract tho effect.tho raising of sugar in the United States and elsewhere may have upon us. First, as to the quantity raised per arre j I find the Georgian account stands considerably higher than an average of nui crops. 1 have not perhaps the most accurate data to direct me as regards ourselves, but uch as it is, and taking the Georgia state ment to be correct, the comparison would run thus: This island by the Almanac, A. R. P. is said to contain 43,727 0 3 As this is, I presume, the to tal surface, let us deduct *-4ths for non-arable, and 1-4 for arable not ih crop, 32,795 1 2 And there will remain in canes for one crop, 10,931 3 1 The average productof tho last 5 yenrs appears from the same source to be (ta- king2trs.or8bls.to a hlid.) 7,719 hhds. Adding to this, for the con sumption of the island, 300 It would be, 8,019 hhds. of, say, 1000 lbs. each, or 14,434,200 lbs. or 1320 1-2 lbs. per acre. By the Georgian account in the first case e have 1647 lbs. per acre, and in the other 488 or an average of 2063 lbs. per acre.— ^ext as to the number of hands; in the Geor- lan statement we have 193 acres cultivated 23 hands, and they raise 9247 lbs. each, ere an estate, which would plant 123 acres, ould, I presume, to be well handed, have 0 negroes,youngand old, which may aii,ex- pt infants and the very aged, be said to ntribute less or more to the cultivation of e cane ; but deducting 100 for infants, ntir- and other ineffective hands, we have for e remaining 150,906 lbs. each. A vast ^proportion this, both in the products and = mTi LLEDGEVILLE, G. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1817. number of hands ; and cannot fail to affect the West-India planter considerably,—for, admitting that the Georgians are only able to supply the United States, it will must ma terially influence the price of our sugar ; ami as they look forward to it) if they export they can bring their’s into market, and con siderably lower than wc can bring our’s ; for besides their greater produce pr. acre, (which it may be said will fall off, though I do nut think it will, or at leust so much as our crops have,) their’s cannot cost them near su much expense in cultivation, as they raise all the food, and I believe most of the clothing ne cessary, and they do nut require near su ma ny hands. Sugar is also cultivated to a con siderable extent in the East-Indies, and pos sibly will soon be in Africa. From all these considerations, therefore, I think it be comes our duty, as it evidently will bo our interest, to consider and adopt those mea sures by.whicli we may increase the produce >f our lands, and cultivate them with less ex pense and ler.s manual labor ; all which ap pear to me to be practicable in some degree ; though local circumstances may prevent our attaining them in an equal proportion with the Georgians. A society for that purpose throughout the Islands, upon one general plan, having a branch in each island, and communicating regularly with each other, which would entourage rational experi ments, similar to the sociaty for the improve ment of agriculture, in the mother-country, would perhaps be the most effectual way to accomplish the first of those great and impor tant objects, anti to contribute to the second, 1 presume Indian corn, sufficient to feed tb< negroes, may if judiciously managed, be rais ed on each estate, without reducing the sugar crops, hut rather the contrary, by which means they may always have a fresli meal. The improvement of those machines and in struments now in use, and the adoption of such others as are applicable, would contribute to the last; for I believe it will not be contend ed that we are arrived at perfection in either —surely 103 acres could not be cultivated by 23 hands with the hoe. The principal ob jection to such a society would he the non- residence of the proprietors in the country ; hut to this I would only say, few as they are, they might do a great deal if they would jointly consider the matter seriously, and to set about it heartily ; for surely something seems to be wanting to meet the recent cir cumstances and appearances. Not pretending to any depth of erudition, I have ventured these remarks for their con sideration, not for the critic’s lash, as I con ceive it the duty t>f every one, who wishes the good of the community lie lives in, to con tribute his mite, however small, to that end. to which, if mine in the least conduces, 1 shall be fully recompensed and highly grati fied, and I hope, some alder hand will bo in duced to take the subject. I am, air, A WELL-WISHER TO THU PUBLIC. TOH)GK APIUCAL. RED-RIVER COUNTRY. JVutchitoches, (Lou.) May 21 it, 1817. Dear Sir,—Under cover of a letter which I received two days since from my brother George, (who lives about 300 miles above St. Louis, on the Missouri,) I received your let ter of 23d September last. I assure you It gave me pleasure to hear from one from whom i once received many marks of friendship ; and although many years have gone by since, the recollection is still fresh in my memory of numberless instances of kindness shewn me by you. Next December will close the sixth year since my removal to this country ; my family at present consists ofa wife and a pair of boys &. girls. The object of your letter being to re quest information of this part of the country ; I will give you as far as my knowledge of it extends, every thing in my power, as well ns my own opinion respecting it. The coun try on the Red river for about 600 miles from its mouth is all flat and very much cut up with lakes artd lagoons. The cultivatable land is confined entirely to the banks of the river; notextending back more than from 15 to 25 acres, when it either overflows at every rise of the river, or is always a lake. The soil is perhaps not inferior to any, and some peculiarly adapted to the growth of cot ton and tobacco ; though the quantity of the former picked from an acre does not exceed what is produced in other states, it is the quality which gives it a decided preference in every market where it is known. The same may be said of tobacco ; for cigars it is con sidered by judges, to be very little inferior to Havanna ; and woilJd, I am of opinion, be as profitable a crop as cotton, were the cultiva tion and management of it as well understood in this country. Nothing has been attempt ed here (except by way of experiment)*in small grain. Wheat does pretty well, but is subject to rust generally, I am told. Sevcra planters have made small crops of the sugal cane for 2 or 3 years past; last year tberr was made perhaps by all of them, 50 or 6e hhds. of sugar, af a quality such as you most) commonly get at Fayetteville ; but I think it donbtful whether it will not be found too precarious a crop to embark in extensively, owing to the uncertainty of the seasons about the time of the cane ripening; as a frost 8 or 10 days earlier than usual destroys it. Fruit of every kind almost, succeeds well here, ex cept apples and cherries. Peaches are very fine.—So much for the soil and productions. The navigation of Red river is remarka ble. Tnere is perhaps no river in America or Europe of the same length which is navi gable so great a distance-; say 1000 miles from its mouth. The principal trade of this place has been confined for the last two or three years to furs and peltries, which has- been very profitable* and has enticed several merchants from New-York, with capitals a- mounting to 20 or 30 thousand dollars, to set tle themselves in this place. The Spanish trade from the adjoining provinces wiil pro bably revive again in the event ofoUr govern ment coming to the determination to take possession of the country at present occupied by the Spaniards ; and from present ap pearances we think that will he done* unless the Spanish government change their senti ment from what they were a few months ago, as communicated to Mr. Monroe by their minister Don D’Onis. We are here certain that this is the intention of our government from the circumstance of two companies of rifle men arriving here a few weeks ago, with everything prepared fur a campaign, and from expressions which have dropped from the commanding officer. Should this be the case, it will open a new world to emigrants, abounding from report with every thing that is desirable. As to the healthiness.of this country, I believe it to be aflout as healthy as Fayetteville, except in some situations near a lake. There is very little winter, nut iniAe than 2 1-2 or 3 months—December, January, and part ofFebruary. Cat'.’e and hogs live in the woods very well generally near the year round. My having lived in Wilmington, (N. C.) for 8 or 9 years before coming here, a climate more unhealthy than this, is the cause I presume of my having en joyed my health extremely well. With re spect to the society here, I wish I could say as much in its favor as might be said of every thing else. The American society is as yet very small, not exceeding 7 or 8 families ; and some of those being part French and * 1 in fluenced by them, reduces the real American society to very few. From this cause we have not been able to establish any achnhla, or any thing like a church, nor in fact do one half of the small number of Americans here seem to care a straw about any such things ; and those that do are so few in number, that the expense would be entirely too heavy for them. The distance from this place to New-Orleans by water, is called 450 or 500 miles. Boats carrying from 2 to 3 hundred barrels, go down generally in 10 days, but take 25 to come up ; freight is very high, 4 1-2 to 5 dol lars per barrel up, and one dollar down. The Indians in this quarter are, and have been ever since the cession of Louisiana, very peaceable & friendly. There have been white men murdered by them in the Indian country, hut they have been men who escaped from the gallows in their own country, and were killed in attempting to steal Indian horses or some of their property. There are very con siderable settlements making on this river 3 or 4 hundred miles above this place ; I am informed thata great numberof families from Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina have removed there during the last winter. The country is represented to be in many respects preferable to this part of Louisiana. It is said to be better in point of soil, health* water and for stock. The want of good springs in this quarter of the state is a very great objection to emigrants from those states where they have been accustomed to fine cool spring wa ter. The planters on the river who are not »at the trouble to catch rain water, drink from the rivex-, which at high water contains about the 1-8 th tif ati inch of red mud in a pint, and in low water, as much salt and alum. • Having I believe, gone, through and repli ed to the different queries in your letter, I will for your further satisfaction give you my o- pinion generally of this country, supposing you were inclined to remove to it. To me it would be rather a delicate & irksome task to describe this country to one who I thought would, upon the strength of my information, remove to it; because it rarely happens that two men think alike as to the beauties, &c. of any country ; and it would give me inucb cause of regret, were you to take my word or my opinion, and should afterwards view every thing in quite a different light from my representation. This country (or the part of it however, with which I am acquainted) is well situated to a man whose principal ob ject as a farmer, is to make a fortune by cul tivating cotton ; and who iB willing to forego every enjoyment (health excepted) other countries afford. A man who can purchase 2 or 3 hundred acres of land, put on it a gang of slaves, sit down with them himself, and care not whether he «ee« any person who can speak English year in and year out; and cul tivate cotton, may, at the present price of cot ton, make money very Vapidly, F'ivc and a half years I have been in this country I con sider as so much time lost nearly. The coun try in short wants every tiling but a fine cli mate to make a residence in it bearly tolera ble. You will naturally ask why I hare re- niained in it so long ? and dislike it so mueh l It is because I have been in hopes of a chaiigo for the better particularly in the society ; but I have now come to tlm determination to re move to the Missouri territory as soon as possible. I can wait no longer, although I still think there will be in 8 or l6 years, a great change for the better. I should be hap py to hear lrom you at any time when you may find it convenient to write. My brother George has, lie tells me, written you. f'ronx his description of the Missouri country I ain rhore pleased with it than any I have heard of or seen. The situation of this country is at present the same as respects provisions with yours. The crops failed last year. Com is now 8 2 per bushel, and scarcely any to be bought. Flour 818 a 20 per barrel; bacon 18 a 20 cts. per lb. In ordinary times corn is about 45 a 50 cents per bush. Popk 5 a 6 cts. and flour SiO a 12. For the latter article you will not consider it high, when you are informed that every barrel thatisconsumcd here is brought from Kentucky or Tennessee, there being no mills in this country and very few situations for building them ; though this state of tilings would be very much changed—was there a change of population, say Americans in place of the French ; which I think will be the case before a great many years. You may perhaps think I have drawn too gloomy a picture of the Red River country ; and ascribe its dark coloring to prejudice; but I have been as much as possible on my guard to prevent any prejudices getting tho better of me. 1 discover l have scrawled over two sheets, which will 1 think suffice and more than suffice for oncej nnd will bid yon adieu. Your friend, &c. SAMUEL II. SIBLEY. Mr. James G. Mask. ■■■■■■* JB CONGHE8S. MEMBERS OF THE 15TH CONGRESS. senate. New-Hampshire, D. L. Morril, J. Storer. Massachusetts, H. G. Otis, E. P. Ashman. Rhode-Island, W. Hunter, J. Burrell, jun. Connecticut, D. Dagget, Satn'l W. Dana, Vermont, Isaac Tichuor* James F'isk. New-York, Rufus King, Nath. Stanford. New-Jereey, J. J. Wilson, M. Dickerson. Pennsylvania, Abner Lacock, J. Robert^ Delaware, O. Horsey. Nicholas Van Dyke. Maryland, R. H.Goldsborougli, A C Hansoft Virginia, Jas. Barbour, Jolm W. Eppes. North-Carolina, N. Macon, M. Stokes. South-Carolina, John Gaill'ard, W. Smith. Georgia, Charles Tate, George M. Troup* Kentucky, J. J. Crittenden, Isliam Talbot. Tennessee, J. Williams, G. \V. Campbell. Ohio, Jere. Marrow, Benjamin lliigglcs. Louisiana, E.Fromentin.W, C. Claiborne, Mississippi, T. S. Williams, W. Leake. Indiana, James Noble, Walter Taylor. HOC SB OF REPRESENTATIVES. New-Hampshire, J. Butler, C. Clagett, S* Hale, A. Livermore, J.T. Parrot,Nr Uphain. Massachusetts, J. Nelson, W. P’olger, jun* B. Adams, J, Wilson, N. Silsbee, S. Strong, J. Holmes, J. Gage, T. Fuller, M. Morton, ii. i?aaw, E. Whitman, S. C. Allen, A. K. Parris, N. Ruggles, E. II. Mills, Z. Samp son, B. Orr, J, Mason, (one vacant.) Rhode-lsland, J. L. Boss, J. B. Mason. Connecticut, N. Terry, C. Dennison, U. Holincs, J. O. Moseley, T, Pitkin, S. B. Sherwood, T; S. Williams. Vermont, It. Allen, S. Crafts, W. Hunter, O. C. Merrill, C. Rich, M. Richards. New-York, O. C. Colmstork, I). Cruger, J. P. Cushman, J. R. Drake, B. Ellirott, J. Hasbrouck, J. Herkimer, T. H. Hubbard, W. Irving, H. Kir Hand, T. Layer, D. A. Ogden, J. Parmer, J. Porter, J. Savage, P. J. Schuyler, 1'. Scudder, J. C. Spencer, II. It. Stores, J. Tallmadgc, J. W. Taylor, Cb. Tompkins, G. Townsend, P. H. Wendover, R. Wcsttrlo, J. W. Wilkin, I. Williams. New-Jereey, E. Bateman, B. Bennct, J. Bloomfield, C. Kinsey, j. Linn, II. South ward. Pennsylvania, W. Anderson, II. Baldwin, V. Bodcn, L Darlington, J. Heister, J. Hop-. kinson, S. D. Ingham, W, Mai lay, VV. P. Maclay, D. Marrhand, K. Moore, A. Ogle, T. Patterson, L. Pawling, J. Ross, J. Ser geant, A. Seybert, J.Spangler, C.Tarr, J.M* Wallace, J.Whiteside, W.Wilson, (I vacant.) Delaware, W. Hall, L. M. Lane. Maryland, T. Bayley, T. Culbreth, J. C. Herbert, P.Little, G.Peter, P.Recd, S.Ring- gold, S. Smith, P. Stuart. Virginia, A. Austin, W. L. Ball, P. P. Barbour, B.Bassett, W. A. Burwell, E. Col ston, J. Floyd, R. S. Garnett, P. Goodwyn, J. Johnson, W. J. Lewis, W. M*Coy, C. F* Mercer, H, Nelson, T.M.Neison, T.Nswtoitj